Debrief: Vikings' quarterback maze a speak of Indianapolis

Gregg Rosenthal is essay daily Debriefs during a week of a 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. This book explores a Vikings’ biggest doubt mark, as good as other Thursday developments in Indy.

INDIANAPOLIS — The biggest doubt bouncing off a walls in celebration holes around Lucas Oil Stadium this week concerns what a Vikings will do during quarterback.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport guessed that Kirk Cousins would land in Minnesota during a stopover on a Around The NFL Podcast, though Rapsheet pronounced not to order out a Cardinals as a dark-horse option. The Jets competence have a many guaranteed income to offer, while Broncos executive John Elway displayed a brew of certainty and stress that he could land his male to pierce past a nightmarish 2017.

“Life is too brief to reconstruct in a NFL,” Elway said.

Cousins is a safest choice accessible to equivocate doing so, and it’s moulding adult to be a four-team competition to pointer him. That leaves teams like a Broncos and Vikings creation strait skeleton if Cousins spurns them. One of a many startling developments this week is a flourishing knowledge that Minnesota’s Option B could be re-signing Sam Bradford rather than Case Keenum or Teddy Bridgewater.

Reading between a lines of Vikings manager Mike Zimmer’s comments Thursday, a classification has concerns about Bradford’s health, though not his talent.

“Can Sam stay healthy? Is Teddy what he was? Is Case a man that he was final year or dual years ago?” Zimmer asked, orderly summing adult a issues with all 3 Vikings giveaway agents.

It wasn’t a usually time Thursday when Zimmer plainly wondered if Keenum could means his spin of play from 2017 or either he would spin behind into a pumpkin. When articulate about Bridgewater, it sounded like Zimmer is quiescent to presumably observant goodbye to a actor he loves. Bridgewater’s best possibility to lapse to a Vikings could be as a backup.

“I’m carefree for Teddy, No. 1, that he has an superb career,” Zimmer said. “He’s warranted it; he’s deserved it. Hopefully it’s with me, though if not, we wish him a best of luck. I’ll give him a cuddle and wish for a best for him.”

Bradford, not Bridgewater, was devoted as Keenum’s backup during a playoffs, notwithstanding Bradford’s degenerative knee. Zimmer remarkable that Bradford was means to ski final week and pronounced he believed Bradford could stay healthy, though also admitted, “Who knows?”

New descent coordinator John DeFilippo worked quickly with Bradford in Philadelphia, and that laxity could be since Rapoport opined Thursday on NFL Network that Bradford could be a many expected Vikings quarterback to return.

Cousins total to be Minnesota’s initial choice, though a Vikings need to be prepared to follow a Super Bowl pretension if they can’t work out that understanding with a top altogether giveaway agent. Zimmer, for one, sounded discreet about fluctuating a organisation too distant financially for one player.

“What we don’t wish to do is say, OK, this is a one thing — we’re going to do this and we’re going to take divided from a rest of a things that have gotten us to this point,” Zimmer pronounced in propinquity to handling a income cap.

There has also been conjecture that a Vikings could use a transition tab on Keenum simply to keep a right to compare any offers from other teams. (There is roughly no downside to this plan, since they can revoke a tab during any time.) This is only one of a dizzying array of variables for Minnesota to consider, with Cousins holding many of a precedence over a whole market. Zimmer dryly joked that he will substantially get fired if a Vikings select a wrong quarterback. Like many good jokes, there was an component of law to it.

“I know there’s a lot of rumors and a lot of opposite things going on out there, though don’t trust all we hear — unless it’s from me,” Zimmer said.

1) Browns ubiquitous manager John Dorsey went out of his approach to tell reporters and a rest of a joining that Cleveland’s open for business with a No. 1 altogether breeze pick.

“Give me a call and see what’s up,” Dorsey said, while throwing out a vibe of a scholarship clergyman from a 1980s comedy, perplexing to bond with his students. (I meant this in a best approach possible. Dorsey is a lot of fun to listen to.)

2) Panthers manager Ron Rivera pronounced Thursday he expects defensive finish Julius Peppers’ preference about either he will retire to arrive soon. It certain sounds like Peppers will retire or re-sign with Carolina, though won’t strike giveaway organisation as one of a many intriguing pass rushers available in a dull market.

Rivera also pronounced that a organisation is looking for large cornerbacks and a maestro far-reaching receiver to fill out of his immature organisation of pass catchers. The Panthers manager certified it would be formidable to keep ensure Andrew Norwell, all though ensuring that our top-rated giveaway representative descent lineman will strike a market.

It’s a fascinating time for a Panthers with new tenure on a approach and a new descent coordinator for Cam Newton. Rivera certified there will be “more pressure” on everybody to perform for their impending new boss.

3) Vikings manager Mike Zimmer pronounced that 2016 first-round collect Laquon Treadwell “needs to get out of his possess way” to attain as a pro. Rapoport reported that Treadwell’s register mark is distant from guaranteed.

4) NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Rams will cut or trade wideout Tavon Austin, finale one of a many unfortunate second contracts in a NFL this decade. Cutting Austin will give ubiquitous manager Les Snead some-more room to keep reserve Lamarcus Joyner and wideout Sammy Watkins.

While Snead was decorous about either a organisation will use a authorization tag, it certain looks like a ideal choice for a Rams would be to re-sign Joyner to a long-term understanding while gripping Watkins on a tag. Snead certified that a Rams were anticipating for some-more than one year of prolongation when they dealt for Watkins, though remarkable that a organisation could potentially get a saving collect behind if Watkins leaves in giveaway agency.

The Rams could breeze adult on a certain side of that saving regulation since they have so many giveaway agents and their large merger of a offseason, cornerback Marcus Peters, came around trade. Snead remarkable that teams around a joining have some-more of an appetite for trades than in years past.

5) Seahawks manager Pete Carroll pronounced he was “ready” to renovate his coaching staff. Still a fascinating figure during age 66 in a many constrained multiplication in football, Carroll pronounced he wanted to be challenged by a new staff and a new towering to climb. The coaching staff changed, though maybe a delegate won’t be blown adult yet. Carroll discharged reserve Earl Thomas’ enterprise for a new contract, observant that Thomas was presumably timid during this time final year. (Translation: Take what Thomas says with a pellet of salt.) Cornerback Richard Sherman expected isn’t going anywhere after carrying a second medicine on his Achilles in February.